Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Non-identical twins Emilie Falk and Lin Backman, left, relax at Emilie's home in Helsingborg, southern Sweden on Sunday. Twins born in Indonesia, and put up separately for adoption, have been reunited after finding each other, living just 40 kilometers apart, in southern Sweden. (AFP Photo)

Stockholm. Twins born in Indonesia and put up separately for adoption, have been reunited after finding each other living just 40 kilometers apart, in southern Sweden, three decades later.

Non-identical twins Emilie Falk and Lin Backman — strangers until last year — were separated nearly 29 years ago.

According to a DNA test the pair had done two months after reuniting in January last year, and which they shared with AFP, there is a 99.98 percent chance of them being sisters.

Indonesian students show anti-Valentine's Day placards during a rally in Banda Aceh in February 2011. Muslim leaders in Aceh have told the faithful not to celebrate Valentine's Day because it is not in accordance with Shariah law. (AFP Photo)

Banda Aceh. Ulema in Aceh have warned Muslims, the younger generation in particular, that observing Valentine’s Day is not allowed in Islam and against Shariah law that is in force in all of Aceh province.

“It is haram for Muslims to observe Valentine’s Day because it does not accord with Islamic Shariah” Tgk Feisal, general secretary of the Aceh Ulema Association (HUDA), said on Monday.

In October 1998, then-Foreign Minister Ali Alatas of Indonesia made a quick, unpublicized trip to Kuala Lumpur. His mission: to convey to Malaysia’s leaders the deep personal concern of then-Indonesian President Habibie at the beating that former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had suffered in police custody. According to Alatas, Habibie was extremely worried because he knew of the frailty of Anwar’s health.

A longtime and close friend of Alatas, then-Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, gave him firm assurance that no more physical harm would be inflicted on Anwar.

Today, Anwar’s health is presumably much improved and his political fortunes are once more on the rise.

SINGAPORE- Four men aged between 30 and 78 years have been admitted to hospital after they apparently consumed illegal sexual enhancement products.

Two of the men were unconscious when they were brought to the hospital while the other two were confused and weak.

All four are no longer in a critical condition.

However, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said the two men who were initially unconscious suffered more severe consequences. One remains in a non-communicative state while the other can only hold simple conversations.

Based on HSA's assessment of the cases, the adverse effects experienced by the four men are likely related to the consumption of the illegal health products.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 — Lim Kit Siang said today that Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s leave should be extended as the minister is yet to be cleared of any impropriety in the ongoing National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal.

The DAP adviser pointed out that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had not exonerated the Wanita Umno chief while the latter herself had failed to rebut any of the many allegations made against her since the scandal hit media headlines.

“As the purpose of her ministerial leave has not been achieved, shouldn’t her Cabinet leave be extended until a clear answer is available?” Lim(picture) asked in a statement here.

In an apparent reference to Rafizi Ramli, who has led PKR’s attacks on Shahrizat and the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp), the federal minister said the idea had been mooted by Perak Wanita Umno at a recent meeting.

“He will look good in red and white as he’s a little jambu (pretty boy). Wanita Umno will pack the red and white garments and send them to my stalker,” she told reporters at Hospital Kuala Lumpur here.

According to the Malay daily’s online article, the politician has informed several Kita state chapter chiefs of his decision through a senior party officer.

“I received a call around 8am today. The party coordinator officer contacted me to inform me of Datuk Zaid’s new decision to not dissolve the party. An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) will not be held,” Johor Kita chief Dr Mohd Zaid Mohd Yusof was quoted as saying by the website.

Dr Mohd Zaid added that his party welcomes the decision, as there is no reason for the dissolution in the first place.

A long time ago, when you mentioned Hasan Ali’s name, there was some respect for this PAS leader even though he was basically another self-proclaimed defender of Islam. Respect was extended to him for his Islamic standing and that was mostly due to his position as the head of PAS Selangor.

Less focus was placed on his persona, educational background but mainly he was held in esteemed and given face because he had been handpicked by PAS to defend the Muslims in the state, and perceived to be performing his religious duties to uphold the good name of Islam. But things changed. Something happened.

The average thinking Malaysian will want to have little to do with Mahathir Mohamed, Malaysia’s noisy ex-Prime Minister. Mahathir is an unapologetic racist and appears quite ready to attempt the release of xenophobic violence for political gain. He consorts with unsavoury racist organizations like Perkasa and is unashamedly pictured on the same platforms as Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali, a veritable imbecile.

It is of course very unbecoming of a former Malaysian Prime Minister to behave in this manner and one cannot help but be embarrassed by him, particularly when his opinions are featured in the international press rather than Malaysia’s own sycophantic state-controlled mainstream publications. One cringes, and one moves on.

Back to the wall Shahrizat Jalil showed her claws with a low blow at PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, but did not have the guts to refute her seniors and her own deputy in Umno who want her out before she destroys their party beyond repair.

"It is a low blow and I understand she must feel the pressure. But we have to be professional. If she and her family are innocent, she would welcome the chance to prove her innocence," Rafizi told Malaysia Chronicle.

Under pressure, Shahrizat resorted to the farcical and the crude

Told in no uncertain terms by the former Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz to "damn it" and get out, and before that by former premier Mahathir Mohamad to "go before she is chased out", and just a day ago by deputy Wanita chief Kamilia Ibrahim to not be a burden to Umno, it was tough for the shell-shocked Shahrizat to put on a brave face.